Spring suspension system for cars



Dec. 27, 1938. CLAR AL 2,141,592

SPRING SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR CARS Filed Feb. 19, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 10424 GE/ 55 BY w b ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1938. F. K. CLAR ET AL SPRINGSUSPENSION SYS'iEM FOR CARS Filed Feb. 19, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORS K. CL/Q/Q ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1938. F. K. CLAR El AL SPRiNGSUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR CARS Filed Feb. 19, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 3lullllllzllllllldz 5 WM n mm m w m mg {WA #5 g e wmm e Dec. 27, 1938. F.K. CLAR ET AL 2,141,592

SPRING SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR CARS Filed Feb. 19, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Lt mm....M,,......,....,

Patented Dec. 27, 191 38 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,141,592 SPRINGSUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR CARS Friedrich Konrad Clar, Berlin-Hermsdorf, and

Carl Geissen, Berlin-Schoneberg, Germany; said Clar assignor toRheinmetall-Borsig Aktiengesellschaft/werk Borsig Berlin-Tegel,Berlin-Tegel, Germany,

Application February In Germany I 3 Claims.

This invention relates to spring suspension systems for cars travelingalong rails and similar vehicles, such as express train cars.

Heretofore, spring systems were arranged a corporation of Germany 19,1937, Serial No. 126,662 February 20, 1936 the following detaileddescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsshowing by way of example preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

underneath or adjacent the lower part of the In the drawings? car frame.Since cars, particularly express train Figure 1 shows a portion of avehicle in longicars having a low floor surface, must be built astudinal section and illustrates means preventing compactly as possible,constructors of such cars an excessive inclination of the supports; haveconsiderable diflicultyin arranging the Figure 2 is a verticalcross-section through the In spring systems or finding a proper placefor vehicle shown in Figure l; them. Figure 3 is a horizontal view ofthe vehicle In addition to fiat or leaf springs which provide shown inFigures 1 and 2, with theroof removed; a vertical spring action, it wascustomary to ar- Figure 4 shows in section a ball and socket range coilsprings or twist-action springs underjoint constituting the lower endportion of a neath the vehicular frame, these last-mentioned longsupport; 15 springs being operative only during an inclined Figure 5 issimilar to Figure 4 and shows the position of the vehicle, particularlywhen it moves joint in an inclined po n; along a curve, and tending tooppose the tilting Figure 6 is a vertical cross-section through a of thevehicle. vehicle provided with long supports and torsion An object ofthe present invention is the prosprings upon which the vehicle frame issusvision of spring suspension systems which are pended; comparativelyinexpensive and will occupy little Figure 7 is a section along the linel--| of space and which at the same time will efiectively Figure 6.absorb various forces acting upon the vehicles in Figure 8 is a verticalcross-section through a the course of the movements thereof. vehicle thelong supports of which are provided The above and other objects of thepresent inwith coil springs; and vention may be realized through theprovision of Figures 9, l0, l1 and 12 are vertical crossa vehicle theframe-work of which is carried by sections through difierent types ofvehicles the long supports, one end of each support being carlongsupporting means of which are provided ried by an axle casingwhile theother end isqsituwith means for adjusting the operative lengths ateddirectly underneath the roof structure of thereof. the vehicle. The endsof the. supports have, pref- The vehicle shown in Figures 1 to 3 iscarried erably, the form of ball and socket joints, each upon rails 33by wheels 34 interconnected by an joint comprising spherical metalsurfaces and a axle 35 which is supported in a casing 36. The rubberlining situated between the surfaces to vehicle comprises side frames 31and wall sup- 35 increase the elasticity of the system. This rubports 38as well as beams 39 supporting the roof ber lining in the course of therelative movement structure. The lower horizontal framework of of thespherical surfaces is subjected only to the vehicle is designated by thenumeral 45 in shear forces in addition to the usual pressure thedrawings. The vehicle is provided with a transmitted to the support. 7turning-moment support 46 and a guide mam 40 In accordance with apreferred form of the her 41 connecting the support 46 with atranspresent invention the upper portion of the veverse beam 48constituting a part of the framehicular frame is attached to orsuspended from work .of the vehicle. The-axle casing 36 isprorod-springs adjacent the roof structure of the vided with aprojecting member 49 which is convehicle, said rod-springs beingconnected with nected with two ends of the springs 50. The detorsionlevers the opposite ends of. which are rice is provided with an axleguide 5| of the resiliently carried through the medium of the usualtype. long supports, by the axle casing of;t he vehicle. I The vehicleframe is supported upon the axle In accordance with another preferredform of casing by a number .of long vertical supports 42. the presentinvention no rod-springs are used, The lower ends of the supports 42have the 50 but the upper ends of the long supports are diform of balland socket joints 44, which are carrectly connected with the beams orother porried by the axle casing 36, while the upper ends tions of thevehicular frame by means of ball and of the supports 42 are providedwith the ball and socket joints, said long supports comprising socketjoints 43. 5 springs the action of which extends in :the direc- Thebeams 39 of the vehicular frame carry rodtion of the longitudinal axisof the l g supports, springs 40 which are firmly connected with thewhile the lower ends of these long g ipports are torsion levers 4|. Thefreeends of the torsion connected with the axle casing by m ans ofsimilevers 4| are connected with the ball and socket lar ball and socketjoints. joints 43. Due to this arrangement the position The inventionwill appear more clearly from of the long supports 42 is fixedrelatively to the 00 vehicular frame and the axle casing by theconnection of their upper ends to the torsion levers 4| and also bymeans of the lower joints 42, as well as the springs 50, theturning-moment support 46 and the axle guide 5|. These elements thusserve as a connection between the vehicular frame and the axle support.

Figures 4 and 5 show in greater detail the construction of the ball andsocket joint 44 of the support 42.

The lower end of the support 42 is situated in a sleeve constituting apart of the. upper joint member 3| of the ball and socket joint 44. Therubber lining 32 is situated between the upper member 3| and the lowermember 38 of the joint 44. The member 38 is carried by the axle casing36 and is connected to one end of the spring 50 (Figure 2).

The form of the two joints 44 and 43 of the support 42 is such that theupper joint 43 is movable along a substantially spherical surface 28,the center of which coincides with the center of the spherical surfacesof the members 30 and 3|.

When the vehicle is being operated, the pressure forces acting upon thesupport 42 are transmitted to it through the rubber lining 32. ,When,however, the joint 43 is moved upon the spherical surface 28 withincertain pre-determined limits the rubber lining 32 will 'be subjectedalso to a shearing force. These movements can take place when a car ofan express train is being shaken in the course of its movement along atrack or they can be also caused by centrifugal forces.

The effect of the shearing forces acting upon the rubber lining 32 andcreated by an inclination of the support 42, is illustrated more clearlyin Figure 5 of the drawings. When the support 42 is moved to theinclined position shown in Figure 5 the upper member 3| moves along withthe support 42 while the lower member 38 which is connected to the axlecasing 36, retains its original position. Shearing forces created bythis relative movement cause the rubber lining 32 to change its form, asis clearly shown in Figure 5.

The ball and socket joint 43 at the upper end of the support 42 may besimilar in construction to the joint 44. The arrangement may be suchthat the center 29 of the spherical surfaces of the joint 44 is movablewithin certain limitsupon the spherical support, the center of whichcoincides with the center of the spherical surfaces of the joint 43 inthe position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.. It is advisable toprovide a permanent connection between the lower member 30 of the joint44 and its supporting casing 36, so that the direction of the axis ofthe support 38 will always be,the same, irrespective of the inclinationof the support 42. In order to achieve that the rubber lining 32 willbesubjected only to shearing forces in addition to the vertical pressure,the relationship of the diameter of the rubber lining 32 to the radialthickness of the lining should be at least 6 to 1.

Figures 6 and 7 show a vehicle having a spring suspension system of aslightly different type. The vehicle comprises a divided axle I30situated in an axle casing I and firmly connected with two wheels |3Iwhich are carried by the rails I32 having an upper edge surface 2.

The vehicle frame 3 comprises beams 4 which carry the roof structure ofthe vehicle. The vehicular frame 3 is firmly connected with the supports6 which carry the rod-springs I. Torsion ,levers 9 are firmly connectedwith the rod-springs I. The free ends of the torsion levers 3 are firmlyconnected with the upper ends of the long supports I3 by means of theupper ball and socket joints II. The lower ends of the long supports I3are firmly connected with the vehicle casing I by means of the ball andsocket joints I5.

It is advisable to provide supporting springs I6 having ends which areconnected to a projecting member I33 constituting an integral part ofthe axle casing I. The opposite ends of the spring I6 are firmlyconnected to the vehicle frame 3.

This arrangement prevents an excessive inclination of the lower portionof the vehicular frame. Furthermore, the inclinations of the supports I3about their lower ends are also limited in a manner which is similar toprior art constructions limiting the movements of the axle casing bymeans of its turning-moment support.

The vehicle shown in Figure 8 of the drawings 1 comprises an axle I40which is situated within a casing MI and which is firmly connected withthe two wheels I42. The wheels I42 are carried by rails I43 having anupper edge surface I44.

The vehicular frame comprises beams which carry the roof structure ofthe vehicle.

The supporting means which carry the frame upon the axle casing,comprise rods or long supports I9 and 28 the upper ends of which areprovided with ball and socket joints I1 and I8, respectively. The upperends of the ball and socket joints I1 and I8 are firmly connected withthe beam I45. The lower ends of the supports I8 and 20 have the form ofdownwardly extending cup shaped casings I46 and H1 which enclose theupper ends of coil springs 23 and 24, respectively. The lower ends ofthe coil springs 23 and 24 are carried by upturned cup-shaped casingsI48 and I49, which are surrounded by the lower portions of the casingsI46 and I41, respectively. The casings I48 and I49 are supported uponthe axle casing I 4| by means of the ball and socket joints 2| and 22.

The ball and socket joints I1 and 2| of the supporting means I9, I46,I48 and 23, or at least one of these joints, should have the form of thejoint 44 shown in Figure 4 and be provided with a rubber lining situatedbetween two, preferably metallic spherical joint members. This rubberlining is subjected only to shearing forces in addition to the verticalpressure, when one of the joint members is inclined relatively to theother joint member.

Springsystems shown diagrammatically in Figures 9 to 12 are used toprevent the tilting of the vehicular frame, when, for example, thevehicle is moving along a curve, or even to cause an inclination of theframe in a direction opposite to the direction of inclination of thevehicle. This is accomplished by varying the operative lengths of thesupporting means, the ends of which are connected by means of ball andsocket joints with the axle casing and the vehicular frame,respectively.

The variations in the operative distances between the joints of thesupporting means may be carried out by providing the supporting meanswith several interconnected elements which can be moved to the desiredextent in directions toward and away from an imaginary straight lineinterconnecting the two end joints. Constructions of this type are shownin Figures 9 and 10.

It is also possible to provide supporting means consisting of severalrods which can be moved relatively to each other in the verticaldirection by means of screw threads, as shown in Figure 11.

, ries a ball and socket joint III.

Y axle casing I01.

7 any suitable means not shown in the drawings.

tween the joints III inclination of the vehicular frame in the case ofan unequal distribution of the load it is advisable to adjust theoperative lengths of the supporting means situated on both sidesof thevehicle, depending upon the position of the vehicular frame above theaxle of the vehicle. If. for instance, a vehicle is inclined toward oneside due to an. unequal distribution of its load, then the operator canoperate contacts which actuate auxiliary motors or steering means whichin their turn, adjust the operative lengths of the supporting meansuntil the frame has assumed a desired position relatively to the axle ofthe vehicle.

It is particularly advantageous to operate each I supporting deviceseparately depending upon the position of the frame. When the vehicle ismoving along a curve it is possible to lengthen the outer supportingmeans of the vehicle and to shorten correspondingly the inner supportingmeans thereof, so that the frame would be inclined in a direction towardthe center of the curve.

These changes in the operative lengths of the supporting means at a timewhen the vehicle is moving along a curve can be made dependent .upon theextent of the centrifugal forces, for example, through the use of anautomatically operable device comprising a centrifugal pendulumwhichoperates electrical contact switches.

Figure 9 shows-the rails I carrying wheels I06 which are connected witha divided axle I50. I50 is supported in bearings I5I situatedwithin theaxle casing I01.

The vehicular frame I08 carries rod-springs I09 which are firmlyconnected with torsion levers H0. The free end of each torsion lever IIOcar- Other ball and socket joints II2 are firmly connected with the axlecasing I01.

The supporting means which are situated beand H2 and which support Theaxle the vehicular frame prise an upper rod H3, a lower rod H4 and ahorizontal double-armed lever I I6 which is pivotally connected at II5with the lower rod II4. One end of the double-armed lever H6 ispivotally'connected with the upper rod II3'. while the opposite end ofthe lever H6 is pivotally connected with a piston rod H1. The piston II8which is firmly connected with the piston rod I I1, is situated with acylinder 9 carried by the The piston H8 and tute an auxiliary motorwhich is operated by the supporting means, between the ball and Theoperative length of i. e., the vertical distance socket joints III andH2 is changed by actuating the piston H8,

whereby the end I52 of the double-armed lever II6 will be moved upwardor downward. r

When the vehicle is moving alonga curve and the frame I08 is tilted, forexample, to the left (looking in the direction of Figure 9), then theoperator should lower the lefthand piston N8,

the extent of the movement of this piston depending upon the angle ofinclination of the vehi le. Then-the end I52 of the double-armed le erH6 will move upward and the operative upon the axle casing, com-,

the cylinder H9 consti distance between the two 'left hand joints IIIand 2 will then be increased, so that the left side of the frame I08will be raised relatively to the right side.

As already mentioned, the operative distances between the joints III andH2 can be varied depending upon the extent of the centrifugal forces,exerted upon a vehicle while it is traveling along a curved path, andthese distances may be so adjusted that the frame will be inclined in adirection toward the center of the curvature of the path traversed bythe vehicle.

Automatically operable or hand operated means may be provided to preventfurther inclination of the frame as soon as the latter has assumed thedesired inclined position.

Figure 10 shows rails I55 supporting the wheels I56 which are firmlyconnected with a divided axle I51. The axle I51 is carried by bearings,I58 which are situated within the axle casing I59. The frame I60 of thevehicle carries rod-springs |6I which are firmly connected with torsionlevers I62. The free ends of the torsion levers I62 are connected bymeans of ball and socket joints I63 with the ends of two-armed leversI2I which are supported intermediate their ends by rods or supports I20.The'opposite ends of the twoarmed levers I2I are firmly connected withpiston rods I64. Each piston rod I64 is connected with a separate pistonI22 situated within a cylinder I65. The cylinders I65 are carried by'the axle casing I59. The lower ends of the supports I20 are connectedwith the axle casing I59 by ball and socket joints I66.

The operative distance between the ball and socket joints I63 and I66can be changed by changing the position of the pistons I22 within thecylinders I65. The'up and down movement of a piston I22/will lower orraise the adjacent ball and socket joint I63 and thereby increase theoperative length of the supporting means, .so that one end of thevehicular frame I60 will be raised -or lowered relatively to the axleI51.

The vehicle shown in Figure 11 of the drawings comprises wheels I10which are firmly connected with a divided axle "I. The wheels I10 arecarried by rails I12. The divided axle I1I is carried by bearings I82which are situated within the axle casing I13.

The vehicular frame I14 carries rod-springs I15 which are firmlyconnected with torsion levers I16. The free ends of the levers I16 carryball and socket joints I11. Ball. and socket joints I13 are carried bythe axle casing I13. The supporting means situated between the jointsI11 and I18 comprise an upper rod I23 and a lower rod I24. The lower endof the rod I23 is provided with .screw threads I25. The upper end of therod I24 is provided with screw threads I19. The screw threads I25 andI19 engage the inner screw threads of a sleeve I80, the-outer portion ofwhich has the form of a worm wheel I8I which meshes with the worm I26.The screw threads I25 and the screw threads I19 extend in oppositedirections. When the worm I26 is operated by any suitable motor (notshown), the wheel I8I and the sleeve I80 will be rotated and will turnthe threaded portions I25 and I19 of the rods I23 and I24. Since thescrewthreads I25 and I19 extend inopposite of the sleeve I80 will causethe rods I23 and I24 to move in directions toward or away from eachother, thereby changing the operative distance between the ball andsocket joints I11 and I18.

directions, the rotation The wheels I of thevehicle shown in Figure 1carried by the axle casing I89. I

In this device the supporting means interconnecting the' ball and socketjoints I93 and I94 are formed by pistons I21 and cylinders I28. The balland socket joints I93 connect the upper ends of the pistons I21 with thetorsion levers I92, while the lower ends of the cylinders I28 aresupported upon the ball and socket joints I94.

Auxiliary pistons I29 are firmly connected with the lower ends of rodsI30 the upper ends of which are attached to the vehicular frame I90.Each piston I29 is movable within a casing I95 which is connected withthe casing I28 through a passage I32. The piston I21 is operated by aliquid which flows into the casings I95and I28 through an opening I3I'.The liquid leaves the casings I 28 and I95 through the opening I33.

The amount of liquid situated within a cylinder I28 underneath thepiston I21 determines the position of the piston and thus determines theoperative distance between the adjacent joints I93 and I94. The amountof liquid flowing into the cylinder I28 is determined by the position ofthe auxiliary piston I29. If, for example, the vehicular frame I90 tendsto incline to the right (looking in the direction of Fig. 12) while thevehicle is moving along a curve, then the right-hand rod I30 will moveits auxiliary piston I29 downward so that the liquid will be able toflow through the righthand passage I3I, the interior of the casing I95and the passage I32 into the right-hand casing I28'.- The liquidwill'raise the right-hand piston I21 and thereby preventany furthertilting of the vehicle in that direction. A

On the other hand if the right-hand side of the vehicle is moved upward,then the right-hand piston I29 will also move upward along with its rodI30 and will close the passage I30, while the passages I32 and I33 willremain open. The liquid situated within the right-hand cylinder I28 willthen leave it through the passage I32, the casing I95 and the passageI33, thereby lowering the position of the right-hand piston I21 withinthe casing I 28'. Since the lowering of the piston I21 will shorten theoperative distance between the two right-hand joints I93 and I94, theright-hand side of the frame I90 will move downward until the vehicleframe assumes a desired position in relation to the axle casing I89.

An advantage of the spring systems constructed in accordance with thepresent invention is that the vehicles can be constructed lower thanthose known in prior art. Heretofore it was customary to arrange thefloor surface of a vehicle at a height of about 1200 millimeters overthe upper edge of the rails, while in the described constructions thisdistance can be diminished to 600 millimeters. The center of gravity ofa vehicle having a low floor surface will, obviously be much lower andnearer the roadbed than that of prior art constructions. This is ofgreat importance in the case of rapidly moving cars or vehiclessubjected to considerable centrifugal forces.

Through the use of long supports or supporting means which reach to theroof of the vehicle a furtheradvantage is attained in that comparativelysmall side forces are transmitted to the axles.

\ The described spring systems can be used conveniently in connectionwith cars having steered axles since in such cars the axles are moved toa considerable extent relatively to the car frame and since the shiftingof the frame caused by these movements can be easily taken in by thelong supports or supporting means without causing any excessiveinclination of said supports.

Certain features of the present invention are further described andclaimed in the patent application of F. K. Clar relating to Springs forcars, Serial No. 125,105, filed February 10, 1937, which has maturedinto U. S. Patent No. 2,129,118, granted September 6, 1938.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicle, a roofed vehicle frame, at least one axle support, apair of elongated supporting means for each axle support, saidsupporting means extending within the vehicle frame substantially closeto the roof thereof, a pair of ball and socket joints carried by saidaxle support and connected with the lower ends of said supporting means,another pair of ball and socket joints connected with the upper ends ofsaid supporting means, a plurality of rod-springs, a plurality oftorsion levers adjacent the vehicle roof, each of said torsion levershaving an end connected to one of said rod-springs and another endconnected to one of the last-mentioned ball and socket joints, and meansconnected to said vehicle frame and supporting said rod-springs.

2. In a vehicle, a roofed vehicle frame, an axle support, supportingmeans comprising a cylinder connected with said axle support, a pistonwithin said cylinder and means connected with said cylinder forsupplying a fluid thereto to vary the position of said piston relativelyto said cylinder, thereby varying the operative length of saidsupporting means; a rod-spring carried by said vehicle frame, a torsionlever situated adjacent the vehicle roof and having one end con- 3. In avehicle, a roofed vehicle frame, an

axle support, at least two separate supporting means situated onopposite sides of said frame each of said supporting means having atleast two members movable relatively to each other to vary the operativelength of said supporting means; and automatically operable means formoving said members depending upon the position of said frame relativelyto said axle support; a rod-spring carried by said vehicle frame, atorsion lever situated adjacent the vehicle roof and having one endconnected with said rodspring, means connecting the other end of saidtorsion lever with one of said members, and means connecting the otherone of said members with said axle support.

FRIEDRICH KONRAD CLAR.

CARL GEISSEN.

